the BigAmateurism monologues

Big-time college football is the king of college sports culturally and financially. Because Power 5 football resides under the NCAA regulatory umbrella, these fundamental facts are often obscured. Lost in discussions about the NCAA as a national regulator and the future of college sports regulation is the dominance of football revenue in the overall business model. This episode looks at big-time football’s influence at the cultural and financial levels. I reflect on my personal experience—as a son of Tobacco Road and former Duke basketball player and as an interloper in the world of SEC football—to discuss the comparative cultural importance of football and men’s basketball. I also compare and contrast the financial impact of these two sports relying on a new financial database compiled by Sportico.